6495: Can woman engage in jihaad?

Is jihaad not obligatory
(waajib) for women – whether it is jihaad by making da’wah or by
fighting the kuffaar?

Published Date: 2000-03-20

Praise be to Allaah.

Jihaad
against the kuffaar by fighting is not obligatory for women, but they must
make jihaad by calling others to the truth (da’wah) and teaching them
about Islam, within the limits that will protect them and wearing the
clothes that cover their ‘awrah. They should not mix with non-mahram men
or speak in soft voices or be alone with non-mahram men. Allaah said
concerning the wives of the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him):

“And
remember (O you members of the Prophet’s family), the Graces of your
Lord), that which is recited in your houses of the Verses of Allaah and
Al-Hikmah (i.e. Prophet’s Sunnah)” [al-Ahzaab 33:34]

It
was reported that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: I
said, O Messenger of Allaah, do women have to do any kind of jihaad? He
said, “Yes, they have to do the kind of jihaad in which there is no
fighting: Hajj and ‘Umrah.” (Reported
by Ahmad, 6/68; Ibn Maajah, 2/968).

It
was also reported that she said: O Messenger of Allaah, we see that jihaad
is the best of deeds. Can we not engage in jihaad? He said, “But the
best of jihaad is an accepted Hajj.” (Narrated
by Ahmad, 6/67’ al-Bukhaari, 2/141).

And
Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad
and his family and companions, and grant them peace.